Adjustable spring clips for earrings or the like



1965 G. c. UDRY, JR 3,200,614

ADJUSTABLE SPRING CLIPS FOR EARRINGS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 3. 1962 United States Patent O 3,200,614 ADJUSTABLE SPRING CLIPS FOR EARRINGS OR THE LIKE George C. Udry, In, 1302 Illinois St., Pekin, Iii.

Fiied Jan. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 163,978 2 Claims. (Cl. 6314) This invention relates to the jewelry art and more particularly to a new and improved adjustable spring tensioning device to be used in spring clip earrings, brooches and the like.

Earrings are a common article of adornament and a great number are being worn and manufactured daily. In particular favor and use at the present time are the spring clip type utilized by this invention. However, in the past, there has been no feasible way to easily adjust the pressure on the ear lobe caused by the spring clip while the earring was being worn. This resulted in discomfort to the wearer when the spring tension was so tight as to pinch the ear lobe, or loss of the earring when the spring tension was so loose as to not grip the ear lobe properly. The present invention has sought to overcome this problem and to fill a definite need in the jewelry industry.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved adjustable earring clip which can be manually adjusted by the wearer while the earring is being worn to provide a comfortable gripping force on the ear lobe of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable stop on a known type of earring clip so that the spring tension of the clip may be changed, said adjustable stop being positioned so as to be inconspicuous and easily adjusted manually, without the use of tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable stop on a known type of earring clip allowing an infinite number of spring tensioning positions, within the physical limits of said stop.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for adjusting the ear lobe pressure of a spring clip earring which is simple in construction and use, economical to manufacture, and does not depart greatly from the shape and operation of the known type of earring clips.

Other objects and adavntages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a spring clip embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical central section taken from FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view; and

FIGURE 4 is a right end elevation.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be described in detail erein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective of the device showing a base 16 which includes portions 14 and 15, flange 11, and a pair of spaced apart flanges 13. An ornamental device (not shown) agar i Patented Au 17 1965 ice would be affixed to flange 11 to engage the outer surface of an ear lobe and form the decorative portion of the earring. Threadably disposed in the base 16 is shaft 21 on which the conically shaped end 22 is aflixed. This end is knurled on its periphery as shown at 23. Pivotally connected to the base 16 is a spring clip 17 including a tongue 18 and a pair of pivot pins 19 connected to the spring clip 17 by arms 20.

In operation, the device functions in the following manner. A threaded opening is formed in the base 16 by portions 14, 15, 24 and 25 which portions are internally threaded. Also, spring clip 17 is pivotally attached by pivot pins 19 to fianges 13 of the base 16.

As shown in the drawing, tongue 18 of spring 17 is in engagement with the conically shaped end 22 which is afiixed to shaft 21. Said conically shaped end 22 is positioned in the space between one end of base 16, and the end of spring tongue 18. Shaft 21 is threadably mounted in the previously described opening formed by portions 14, 15, 24 and 25. To increase or decrease the tension on the tongue 18, the end 22 is manually rotated as by the knurled edge 23. This raises or lowers shaft 21 in its threaded track and thus creates more tension on the tongue 18.

In so moving shaft 21 and end 22 in a plane transverse to the pivot pins 19, end 22 is moved towards and away from tongue 18. However, due to the spring tension on tongue 18, it is in constant engagement with end 22 and therefore the raising and lowering of end 22 moves tongue 18 closer to or farther away from the plane of pivotal movement formed by pivot pins 19. As a consequence, the spring clip 17 will be made to have more or less pressure against the decorative portion (not shown). This then causes the pressure between spring clip 17 and the decorative portion (not shown) to be adjustable.

It has thus been described in the above specification how the present device operates so that the earring may be easily adjusted while being worn on the ear lobe with the decorative portion engaging the outer surface of the ear lobe and the spring clip 17 engaging the inner surface of the ear lobe. The adjustable, conically shaped end 22 is so positioned as to be inconspicuous when the earring is being worn, yet easily reached by the fingers without the use of tools to change the pressure on the ear lobe by the simple process of rotating the knurled periphery 23 of end 22.

I claim:

1. An earring clip comprising: a base, means at one end of the base for mounting an ornamental device, a spring clip adjacent the other end of the base, means mounting the spring clip on the base of pivotal movement about an axis, a resilient tongue on said spring clip, and means threadably mounted on the base manually adjustable along an axis transverse to said pivotal axis to vary the tension in the tongue and thereby vary the pressure exerted by the spring clip, said means engaging the tongue in all positions to urge the spring clip about said pivotal axis.

2. An earring clip comprising: a base for mounting an ornamental device at one end thereof a part of which is adapted to engage the outer surface of an ear lobe; a spring clip engageable with the inner surface of an ear lobe pivotally mounted on the other end of said base for movement toward and away from said part, said clip including a resilient tongue extending to a position adjacent the base; and manually adjustable means for varya a v 4 ing the tension in the spring clip and thereby determining 2,557,200 7 '6/51' -Pujol 63-144 the pressure exerted by the clip on an ear lobe, said 2,668,341, 2/54 Arzt 63-14.4 means including a member threadably mounted on the 2,818,764 1/58 Switzer 1086 base for adjustment toward and away from the tongue and in engagement with said tongue at a tongue-engaging 5 FOREIGN T T portion having a knurled circular periphery. 1866 Great ta 1,009,894 6/52 France. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Exammer. 2 230 9 4 2/41 Chemo, 63 14 4 1 HUNTER BOURNE, Examiner- 

1. AN EARRING CLIP COMPRISING: A BASE, MEANS AT ONE END OF THE BASE FOR MOUNTING AN ORNAMENTAL DEVICE, A SPRING CLIP ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF THE BASE, MEANS MOUNTING THE SPRING CLIP ON THE BASE OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS, A RESILIENT TONGUE ON SAID SPRING CLIP, AND MEANS THREADABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE MANUALLY 